SEO Senior Occupational Psychologist

Job summary

Would you like to make a difference to UK Defence by applying your Occupational Psychology skills and experience? Would you like to work flexibly, have a generous holiday entitlement and contributory pension, and support for at least five days of professional and personal development each year? If so, this could be the role for you. This is an exciting opportunity to join the Occupational Psychology Team at Air & Space Command. The role of the Air & Space HQ Occupational Psychology Team is to apply professional skills and knowledge to deliver outputs relevant to stakeholders in order that they can make evidence-based policy decisions. Whilst the RAF purpose is to deliver Air and Space Power for the UK this cannot be achieved without a focus on people and harnessing their potential. Our work focuses on designing and delivering RAF specific aptitude testing, understanding the attitudes of RAF People and how these might shape their behaviours and decision making, and providing consultancy-based services for bespoke people requirements. Our work encompasses the Whole Force (Regulars, Reserves and Civil Servants) as well as families of serving personnel.

You will join the MOD Occupational Psychology profession which is part of the wider Government Occupational Psychology Profession (a recognised government specialist profession). The profession comprises over 250 members across all the major government departments and many agencies and arms-length bodies – which makes us the largest Occupational Psychology community in the U.K. We are a vibrant community with a long history in government going as far back as, at least, World War II, as shown in the Fifty Years of Occupational Psychology in Britain.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

Responsibilities

The post holder will support the Principal Occupational Psychologist in the design, delivery and validation of computer Based Aptitude Testing for RAF specific critical roles. Act as technical Lead for the Continuous Attitude Surveys within the RAF. Deliver bespoke research as commissioned by RAF stakeholders and wider Defence.

Key Duties

Support Computer Based Aptitude Testing

• Support the Principal Psychologist with needs analysis to inform Computer Based Aptitude tests and wider psychological assessment practice.

Conduct research, statistical analysis and development to support the design, development, implementation and evaluation of the aptitude tests for RAF led personnel selection.

Technical Lead for RAF Continuous Attitude Surveys

• Oversee the delivery and quality of the RAF Continuous Attitude Surveys acting as Technical Lead to ensure the robustness, utility and dissemination of results.

Research and development

• Conduct research as directed by the research agenda and act as Technical Lead for research conducted by trainee occupational psychologists.
• Apply the occupational psychology consultancy cycle to address people issues as prioritised.
• Design and deliver interventions applying an evidence-based approach and evaluating interventions to assess their utility.
• Collaborate with other psychologists and SMEs from other disciplines to develop solutions to People issues.

• Collaborate with other psychologists and SMEs from other disciplines to develop solutions to People issues.

Management

• Line manage two Higher Psychologists.
• Oversee/supervise the work of Higher and Executive Officer Psychologists (Trainee Occupational Psychologists) to ensure high-quality outputs.

Key Criteria

The following criteria will be assessed during the sifting process:

Experience

• Minimum of 4 years relevant post MSc experience.
• Experience of working in selection and assessment.
• Have applied a range of research methods and statistical analysis and have commitment to high quality research output.
• Responding to short notice requests for advice and information.
• Managing stakeholders at all levels.
• Drawing together different evidence sources to support evidence-based decision making and draw out the psychological implications of findings.
• Providing technical advice and review of relevant evidence and research.
• Collaborating with colleagues in other teams and being willing to learn from these experiences.
• Developing professional knowledge, learning about key contextual issues, and knowledge sharing.
• Using statistical data software such as SPSS; as well as Excel experience.
• Applicants must be highly motivated, have good interpersonal skills and the ability to work with staff at all levels.

Desirable:

• Psychometric test development
• Cognitive task analysis
• Cognitive psychology knowledge

Person specification

Essential Qualifications:

BSc Psychology that confers Graduate Basis for Chartership with the BPS. (Qualification)

MSc Occupational Psychology (or equivalent titled course) approved as Stage 1 by the BPS. (Qualification)

British Psychological Society Qualification in Occupational Testing – Personality.

British Psychological Society Qualification in Occupational Testing – Ability.

Essential Memberships:

Chartered Member of the BPS (or immediately eligible to join). (Membership)

Full Member of the Division of Occupational Psychology (or immediately eligible to join). (Membership).

Essential Licence:

Registered Occupational Psychologist with the HCPC. (Licence)

Desirable:

Membership of the Register of Qualifications in Test Use (RQTU) or willing to join.

Member of the Register of Applied Psychology Practice Supervisors (RAPPS) (or immediately willing to join the register) to be able to supervise psychologists undertaking a BPS approved qualification to become a Chartered and Registered Occupational Psychologist

Technical Skills

Civil Service Occupational Psychology Professional Standards at Senior Psychologist level.

Behaviours: Ambassador (CS Professional standards), Making effective decisions, Communicating and influencing, Delivering at pace, Managing a quality service, Working together, Developing self and others.

Knowledge base (Leadership, Engagement & Motivation; Psychological Assessment at work).

Consultancy.

Licences

Essential Licence:

Registered Occupational Psychologist with the HCPC. (Licence)

Qualifications

Essential Qualifications:

BSc Psychology that confers Graduate Basis for Chartership with the BPS. (Qualification)

MSc Occupational Psychology (or equivalent titled course) approved as Stage 1 by the BPS. (Qualification)

British Psychological Society Qualification in Occupational Testing – Personality.

British Psychological Society Qualification in Occupational Testing – Ability.

Memberships

Essential Memberships:

Chartered Member of the BPS (or immediately eligible to join). (Membership)

Full Member of the Division of Occupational Psychology (or immediately eligible to join). (Membership).

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together
• Developing Self and Others
• Managing a Quality Service
• Making Effective Decisions

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Ambassador
• Knowledge base (Leadership, Engagement & Motivation; Psychological Assessment at work)Consultancy.

We only ask for evidence of these technical skills on your application form:

• Ambassador

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £46,040, Ministry of Defence contributes £13,337 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and working from home as part of a non-contractual hybrid working arrangement. All office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to site capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD workplace, will also count towards this level of office attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this and other flexible working arrangements may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements.

The post does not offer relocation expenses.

External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period.

Please Note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed.

Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.

Any move to MOD from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.

The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere in the Defence working environment however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments.

MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey – We may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Policy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

The selection process will include an application sift and interview.

A CV will be required for this position; this cannot be uploaded to the advert. You will submit using the CV template provided on the CS Jobs dashboard in part two of your application, detailing job history, full qualifications, previous experience and skills.

A Personal Statement will also be required (750 Words). Please state your suitability against the key criteria.

At sift, candidates will be assessed against their CV and Statement of suitability and the following:

Behaviours:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together

Technical skills (Government Occupational Psychology Profession Professional Skills & Standards):

• Ambassador

Applications will be sifted on all Success Profile elements, but in the event of a high number of applications, the sift will be conducted on your CV only.

Qualifications, memberships and licenses, as stated in the job advert and the experience listed in the key criteria.

At interview, candidates will be assessed against the following:

Behaviours

• Developing Self and Others
• Managing a Quality Service
• Making Effective Decisions

Technical skills (Senior Psychologist)

• Knowledge base (Leadership, Engagement & Motivation; Psychological Assessment at work)
• Consultancy.

Presentation

You will be asked to present on a research project you have delivered in either Leadership, Engagement & Motivation or Psychological Assessment at Work. Full details will be provided upon invitation to interview.

Application sifting is scheduled to take place on week commencing 2nd November 2026. Interviews will take place on the week commencing 30the November 2026. We endeavour to stick to these dates, but these are subject to change around business needs.

Further information:

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came into effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points-based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical. This role does not meet that category, and we will not sponsor a visa. It is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points-based system.
Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.

The Ministry of Defence requires all candidates who are successful at interview to declare any outside interests. These declarations will be discussed with successful candidates following the interview process and before a formal offer of employment is made, as some outside interests may not be compatible with MOD civilian roles. This will not, in the majority of cases, prevent employment in MOD, but it is a measure that must be taken to ensure that appropriate mitigations can be put in place to manage any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest from the first day of employment.

The Ministry of Defence adopts a zero-tolerance approach to unacceptable behaviours, which includes bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and victimisation. You will not be eligible and will not be considered for this post if you have been dismissed from a role for such unacceptable behaviours within the last five years. This will also apply if you resign or otherwise leave a role but, because of an adverse decision, would have been dismissed for gross misconduct had you continued in that employment. Pre-employment checks will be carried out.

CANDIDATE INFORMATION

Please read this document prior to completing your application.

Please note: internal candidates must include their staff number when prompted during the application process.

Should you have any queries relating to the vacancy information or sift and interview process, please contact the recruiting line manager using the contact details listed on the vacancy. Please do not direct vacancy related queries to the recruitment team as they will be unable to advise.

FURTHER INFORMATION

CV’s

Should the selection process require a CV, you will be prompted to complete the required criteria during the application process. CV’s sent directly to the recruiting line manager will be deleted immediately to maintain anonymity.

Civil Servants (all grades)

Applicants should monitor their Civil Service Jobs application centre regularly for updates.

Some of MoD’s Terms and Conditions of Service (TACOS) changed from 3 February 2014. Those TACOS changes applied to Broader Banded and Skill Zone staff who were new recruits to MoD or who were appointed to a post on substantive promotion, progression or advancement. On the same basis, the TACOS for Departmental Retained Grades changed with effect from 01 September 2014.

Applicants should be aware that any move across the Civil Service on or after 5 October 2018 may have implications on an employee’s ability to carry on claiming childcare vouchers.

Please see link below to Civil Service Recruitment Principles http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/201…

Please see the MOD Privacy notice which informs how we will use your personal data, explains your rights and gives you information you are entitled to under Data Protection legislation.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministry-of-defence-privacy-…

Non Civil Servants

All employees joining MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a 6-month probation period effective from the employment start date.

COMPLAINTS

Please be aware that the selection and interviewing of applicants is the responsibility of the Recruiting Line Manager (RLM) and not the Defence Business Services (DBS) Resourcing team. DBS does not play any part in the selection and interview process itself.

Therefore, if you wish to discuss your feedback, or you are dissatisfied with your markings, you should in the first instance raise this with the Recruiting Line Manager of the vacancy.

If you are dissatisfied with the service you have received from DBS, or believe that DBS has failed to follow the recruitment process in line with the Civil Service Commission principles of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of Fair and Open competition, you can raise a formal complaint. by writing to DBS at the following address:

Defence Business Services

Scanning Hub

Room 6124

Tomlinson House

Norcross Lane

Blackpool

FY5 3WP

FOR EXTERNAL VACANCIES If after raising your complaint with DBS you remain dissatisfied you can complain directly to the Civil Service Commission at the following address:

Civil Service commission

Room G/8

1 Horse Guards Road

London

SW1A 2HQ

Or by email: info@csc.gov.uk

Cabinet Office Fraud Checks

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant whose details are found to be held on the IFD will be refused employment

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Zoe Szuster-Stone
• Email : Zoe.Szuster-Stone792@mod.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk

Further information

Please ensure you read the attached candidate information document prior to completing your application. If you are dissatisfied with the service you have received from DBS, or believe that DBS has failed to follow the recruitment process in line with the Civil Service Commission principles of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of Fair and Open competition, you can raise a formal complaint by writing to DBS at the following address: Defence Business Services, Scanning Hub, Room 6124, Tomlinson House, Norcross Lane, Blackpool, FY5 3WP. If after raising your complaint with DBS you remain dissatisfied you can complain directly to the Civil Service Commission at the following address: Civil Service commission, Room G/8, 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ Or by email: info@csc.gov.uk.

Attachments

Occupational_Psychology_Prof_standards_doc___v9_17.11.23 Opens in new window (pdf, 2704kB)Air Command's Applicant Guide Opens in new window (pdf, 499kB)Defence Civil Service Offer Opens in new window (pdf, 1562kB)Defence Internal Brief notice Opens in new window (docx, 43kB)